People News

Ishmael Jaffree, the Mobile, Ala., lawyer who persuaded the U.S.
Supreme Court in 1985 to overturn the state's moment-of-silence law,
has failed in his attempt to have a court declare that secular humanism
is not a religion.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled Jan. 26 that
Mr. Jaffree lacked legal standing to demand that the federal courts
rule on the issue.

Mr. Jaffree filed the motion following U.S. District Judge W.
Brevard Hand's controversial decision last March to ban 44 textbooks
used in the state's schools on the grounds that they promoted the
religion of secular humanism. Judge Hand's decision came in a case that
stemmed from Mr. Jaffree's moment-of-silence lawsuit.

The 11th Circuit Court said its decision last August to overturn
Judge Hand's ruling had ended the controversy.

Four superintendents of schools have been named finalists for the
first Superintendent of the Year award, a new honor sponsored by the
American Association of School Administrators and the ServiceMaster
Company of Downers Grove, Ill.

The four, selected from a field of 38 state finalists by a "blue
ribbon" panel of educators, were cited for their leadership and
communications skills, professionalism, and community involvement.

The winner of the title will be announced Feb. 19 at the aasa's
annual convention.

The winner will receive a gold medallion and a $1,000 savings bond;
a $10,000 college scholarship will also be presented in his name to a
student attending his high-school alma mater. The finalists are: Gene
R. Carter of the Norfolk (Va.) Public Schools; Jack C. Dulaney of the
Monongalia Public Schools in Morgantown, W. Va.; Scott N. Rose of the
Pinellas County Schools in Clearwater, Fla.; and Robert D. Tschirki of
the Littleton (Colo.) Public Schools.

Richard P. Mills, the education adviser to Gov. Thomas H. Kean of
New Jersey, has been named commissioner of education in Vermont. He
will take office next month.

A graduate of Vermont's Middlebury Col6lege, Mr. Mills will succeed
Stephen S. Kaagan, who announced his resignation last fall and was
later named to an academic post at Rutgers University in New
Jersey.

Mr. Mills played an influential role in helping Governor Kean press
several high-profile education initiatives, such as an increase in
minimum teacher salaries. He was selected late last month by the state
board of education over two other candidates, including James Lengel,
Vermont's deputy commissioner of education. Mr. Lengel then resigned,
saying he wanted to allow Mr. Mills to choose his own management
team.

In an unusual move, James Scamman, superintendent of schools in Denver,
has left his post to accept a lesser job in the system.

Mr. Scamman, who was appointed superintendent in 1985, resigned late
last month and asked the Denver board of education to reassign him to
the job of executive director of curriculum services for the district.
He will earn $56,660 in his new position--$22,000 less than his current
salary.

Although the school board had been divided over Mr. Scamman's
performance, it did not put pressure on him to resign, said Carole
McCotter, a board member.

Vol. 07, Issue 20

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